#who also cannot stand fire alarms

[lightblueminecraftorchid]

Me: you know tbh I haven’t rly experienced a lot of speech loss or sensory issues, sometimes I can handle my sensory triggers fine, maybe it’s weird that I have an AAC, maybe I don’t need it and I’m just faking all my symptoms and if I pushed through it-

*fire alarm sounds*

*literally crumples into a ball on the floor with my ears covered, cannot move for several minutes despite desperately trying to, cannot talk for over an hour*

Me: …okay so maybe that was the internalized ableism talking

#I am so sorry to my friend who I was visiting #who also cannot stand fire alarms #who had to open the doors and air out the house because I physically could not move #I was sitting there the whole time thinking ‘why can’t I just move’ #‘I’m being so selfish I know my friend really struggles with the noise’ #‘I need to get up and help air out the house’ #nothing worked. I couldn’t move until the sound was gone and had been gone for a while #if I was really making it up I would have gotten up and helped my friend but I physically could not #I haven’t reacted to a fire alarm that way in a long time #but this is also the first time in a long time I haven’t had my ear guards handy #weird how that works /sarcasm. almost like the accommodations actually affect my ability to function or something. #it was so weird I literally just. crumpled. it was standing up to in a ball on the floor in a second. scared myself. #but it was okay I calmed down eventually and drank some water and watched some DND and was able to calm down enough to move and talk #and feel pretty okay when I went home #blue chatter

[biibini]

modern!mizu headcannons

a/n: my brain has been nothing but her so it’s ab time i write ab her. i’ve read a bunch of modern!mizu headcannons ab her but i need more !! it becomes a drabble at the end but my girl deserves peace and happiness pls

i’ve read a lot of hc w her in uni so i’ll prob stick to the similar things ive read + more

modern!mizu would def be in university studying mechanical engineering

ik this is specific but pls hear me out it fits bc shes a smartie & her adopted dad (master eiji) was a very technical person when she was growing up

she’s also in uni due to an engineering scholarship

modern!mizu is usually at the gym if it wasn’t for classes and fixing her bike

yes she has a motorcycle. i stand by this hc and many others who share similar ideas.

prob a kawasaki ninja but decked out w her own alternations

modern!mizu is a gym rat but is too stubborn to admit it, esp after taigen pointed it out once

likes to go in the early morning for the peace and quiet

she typically goes in for cardio and weights to keep her healthy and in shape but has dabbled in calisthenics before

taigen used to fence w her before he got into other sports such as basketball

(random thought but he just looks like he would play basketball player)

modern!mizu is very smart… but has a slight huge problem with procrastination

akemi has tried many studying techniques with mizu but it ends up her procrastinating and finishing alone

she prefers studying alone in the library or at her desk, until you came along

(ill elaborate on mizu & reader another time)

modern!mizu cannot cook for shit i’m sorry

she can kinda chef it up but it’s taken her a while she nearly burnt the kitchen and has repeatedly turned on the fire alarm and now ringo has ptsd

usually ringo will cook something or help her cook

speaking of ringo

her and ringo are roommates in off-campus housing 2 bed 2 bath

at first, dad eiji was a bit hesitant since he was helping mizu move in but warmed up to ringo once he cooked them dinner (his mom’s soba recipe)

mizu swears she saw a tear roll down her dad’s cheek that day

modern!mizu usually dresses more casually and comfy but still likes her dark blues

not to self indulge but she would like the baggy acubi look that she can move in

(i know this is so inaccurate of others’ headcannons but pls the baggy button up + slingbag combo would go crazy)

ik she got a uniqlo drawstring sling bag

or just any sporty crossbody sling bag

hear me out pls

it’s easier to get on and balance on her motorcycle with comfy clothes and a secure bag

on mizu’s and ringo’s move-in “anniversary” (as ringo like to call it), he got her a lil keychain for her bag with a jingle on it as a joke to her initial move-in gift to him: a bell for being so silent

modern!mizu usually keeps to herself and her friends

after her ex bf m*k*o (yes im censoring his name he doesnt deserve to be typed out) , she’s very cautious of who to trust

thankfully, ringo, akemi, and taigan (as much of an ass as he is) has taught her to open up and be okay with who she is

but there are days when she prefers to be alone and sticking to her own business in peace and quiet

headphones on locked in 🎧

modern!mizu likes to wind down before bed with some chamomile or lavender tea

her temper used to control her feelings, especially when she was much younger

having a small routine at night keeps her calm & well rested

eiji initially started this routine after their long days of welding in the backyard

she can’t cook but give her a teapot and tea leaves, she will make it right

(ok im done imagining her life lets get to the good stuff)

modern!mizu loves little touches

whether it’s holding u by ur hand or shoulder or waist, her hand will always be there

her main love language is physical touch

the more comfortable she gets with u, the longer she’ll leave her hand on u

whenever u and her are out at a party or gathering, u implemented the secret squeeze if either one of u wants to get out

u haven’t used it before but mizu did a few times

it was when she just wanted to be closer to u in the comfort of her own bed

modern!mizu enjoys shopping w u

she kind of knows her style: comfy and light

but she never explored how to pair clothes together until u showed her some basic pairing

when she first met akemi, she was uncomfortable with more feminine styles and shopping for going-out tops with her

it mainly stems from just not knowing a lot of trends and seeing a wide range of items

she got accustomed the items but seeing u have fun trying new tops

totally not sneaking into the changing room and stealing a few kisses many kisses

modern!mizu also enjoys holding ur things for u

she won’t say it explicitly but she is silently expressive ab it

u need someone to hold ur drink while u fix ur shoes? she got it. need someone to hold ur bag while u go to the bathroom? she got it.

need someone to get a glass of water even though ur all comfy in bed? she will get it (for a price aka some extra cuddles & kisses)

she’s also the type of put ur hand behind ur back when ur in a crowd

ok thats all for now but hope u enjoyed ♡

#mizu x reader #mizu bes #bes mizu #mizu blue eye samurai #blue eye samurai #blue eye samurai mizu #modern au #mizu x you #mizu x y/n #mizu headcanons #mizu #headcanon #modern au fic #modern au mizu #blue eye samurai modern au #modern au blue eye samurai #modern mizu x reader

[portraitofadyke]

Ed's 'inevitably violent streak'

I would also like to point out that despite the show skipping most of Ed's spiraling era and only showing us a very quick montage and his list of crimes, we never actually see him physically hurt any crew member but Izzy.

In s1, Ed never explicitly harms anyone. Maiming during the educational raids is mentioned by Stede, but Ed never lashes out on anyone but the 'other guys'. He threatens some guy to show Stede how it's done, he tells Fang to skin a guy. What is his reaction when the first person he lays himself bare for abandons him?

Yeah, he curls up into a ball, cries, eats shitload of marmalade in a pillowfort and writes shitty breakup songs. But wait, there is a guy in s1 who repeatedly slaps and threatens the crew! Someone who, coincidentally, also attempts to kill Stede after Ed tells him not to!

Oh, wait, it's Izzy. It's Izzy bc he cannot stand Ed going 'soft' around this crew. So he comes up with a plan to sell the crew and Stede out to the English and get them killed, despite knowing about Ed's feelings.

Of course, Ed throws Lucius overboard. Notably, right after Izzy threatens his life unless he becomes Blackbeard again. It's a breaking point for him, because he laid himself bare for Lucius the most, and in killing Lucius, he might kill that side of him. But, as we know, Lucius survives. We never really doubted it, to be fair, because Lucius is still A Good Guy.

In s2, we get the montage. It's said that Blackbeard has gone mad and is probably working the crew relentlessly, always raiding and looting and chasing after the next thing. I do believe the saw him do some pretty fucked up shit, and he's probably driving them crazy by making them do more fucked up shit on each raid. In fact, the crew knows he's fucked up, and Izzy even says they're all 'worried about him'. Izzy makes the mistake by not only quoting Stede and mentioning his name, but suggesting they talk about it, after years and years of prohibiting Ed from expressing his feelings and threatening him whenever he becomes 'soft'. Good thinking, just hypocritical and way too fucking late. In fact, when he comes on board after Izzy suggests talking, nobody seems all that alarmed until he pulls out the gun, which he never fires at anyone but Izzy, after he mentions Stede, the man Izzy almost killed multiple times. The crew is uncomfortable, they think he's crazy. It's never said that he hurt any of them. In fact, they all just kinda sit around until he shoots Izzy. After Izzy dares to talk about his 'feelings for Stede', something Izzy threatened to kill him over before. They actually seem pretty fucking shocked Ed did that. Would they react that way if he repeatedly hurt the crew?

After that, Ed just goes back to being depressed. In fact, I rewatched the first two episodes AGAIN, and Ed just goes to play with his dolls, cries like crazy, and presumably starts coming up with more passive ways to kill himself. In his interactions with Frenchie, he even holds Frenchie, and he never flinches, doesn't seem to be afraid to be in his proximity. Even when Ed knows Frenchie is lying about killing Izzy, he never lays a hand on him.

Even when he's sailing them into a storm, the crew is hesitant to take him down. They know he's fucked up, they wanna know if he's better. Sure, they are probably also afraid of him, but Ed once again never hurts them. He's at his lowest, ready to die, and yes, he makes Jim and Archie fight (bc he saw them kiss lovingly and that's... touchy). Even as he's ready to die, he doesn't go out to hurt any of them. When they finally take him down, he's just ready to go. At that point, he's just completely out of it.

My point is, certain people like to paint Ed as this inevitably violent person. And sure, everyone knows Blackbeard is insane. A maniac. He tortures both mentally and physically. But Ed, even as Blackbeard, goes after other people, not his crew. He hurts people in raids and soldiers and shit. Of course, he did send the crew through Hell, but for someone who is 'abuser' and 'gonna domestically abuse Stede', he doesn't hurt his crew other than Izzy, who fucking gets it after repeatedly trying to kill Stede and abusing Ed for years. They explicitly TELL US Ed's go-to answer isn't violence unless the other person threatens him. Maybe, just maybe, all of you are a bit racist?

#ofmd spoilers #ofmd meta #ofmd fandom crit #the izcourse #izzy critical #and once again it's OKAY TO ENJOY IZZY AS A FUCKED UP PERSON #it's not okay to pretend he is a victim

[contemplatingoutlander]

I’m starting to think Donald Trump is sounding like Hitler on purpose

Satirist Alexandra Petri hits another one out of the ballpark. ⚾😁 This is a gift🎁link, so anyone can read this column, even if they don't subscribe to The Washington Post. Below are some excerpts:

Sorry! I know! You are sick of hearing about Donald Trump! “Don’t worry,” people keep saying. Donald Trump did just promise to “root out” the internal enemies who “live like vermin” in our country, but he only might be the next president. I don’t mean to worry you, but people are running around with their hair on fire, saying they are suffering from intense, nauseating levels of déjà vu, and those people are historians. I don’t like seeing historians this stressed out. If something in my house has to emit an ominous beeping, I want it to be the alarm clock, not the smoke detector. “We pledge to you that we will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country that lie and steal and cheat on elections,” Trump announced on Veterans Day. And when people complained that sounded like something Adolf Hitler would say, a spokesman responded that “their entire existence will be crushed when President Trump returns to the White House.” Which, to be fair, also sounds like something Hitler would say. When you say, “What you just said sounds very much like Hitler’s rhetoric,” you don’t want that to be taken as a challenge. The response you are hoping for is something more like: “Oh no! That was not how we meant to sound, and we are going to leave political life and rethink everything about ourselves and hope that by our final day, we can say we atoned a little bit.” This is not a problem that most candidates have! Ominous, dictatorial rhetoric is not a hard thing to avoid for most candidates. Except possibly for the ones who are running for school boards on the platform of “Let’s ban books,” which also, candidly, I do not love. I can see accidentally saying something like, “I love to stand on a balcony” or “I am interested to see more fashion by Hugo Boss,” but those are not the kinds of things we are talking about. You cannot just “oops” your way into dehumanizing huge swaths of the population. [color emphasis added]

I encourage folks to use the gift link above to read the rest of this column. These are frightening times, but I'm always grateful that when some of us get tired of screaming in fear😱, Alexandra Petri can make us laugh.😂

#trump #fascism #satire #alexandra petri #the washington post #gift link

[uniquevoidflowers]

Visions of Tears

@unexpectedstormy, here is the one about Sky and his vision about TOTK!

(I also tried to write in third person for once!)

Sky’s POV

“Off to sleep with you all! Remember, first watch is Warriors, second watch is Wild and third watch is Sky.” Time demanded.

Everybody nodded in acknowledgement and crept to their bedrolls. Sky sighed and closed his eyes letting the crackling of the fire sooth him as he awaited a peaceful slumber until his watch. 

__________

Two people, which Sky recognized as Wild & Flora were walking in what looked like some sort of underground cave. Flora held up a flaming torch and with a contemplative look on her face examined her surroundings, while Wild followed close behind her. Wild had some additions to his blue tunic that Sky knew he treasured. The only one who had ever laid a hand on that tunic was the cook himself. Flora’s hair was cut short, unlike how Sky had seen before. Flora’s hair was usually long and flowing down. 

Sky had a very bad feeling about this, a gut feeling that something was going to go wrong. A flash, and suddenly the pair were arriving at a huge room with something peculiar in sight. Sky saw a corpse and a glowing teal hand grasping the corpse. Sky had just noticed the weird red malice floating through the air and his stomach sunk. Malice was a very bad sign. 

Flora and Wild slowly walked closer in wonder of the sight before them, when abruptly, the teal arm made a noise and broke off of the corpse. Sky startled, alarmed, watching as an object fell unto the ground in front of Flora. It was in the shape of a tear. Flora hesitated but picked up the tear and Sky noticed it glowing brighter and brighter until Flora suddenly gasped. Then the corpse began to move, slowly but surely standing until falling back and turning its head to Flora and Wild, eyes suddenly glowing red and a pupil appearing. 

Before Sky could even react huge bursts of malice shot their way towards Flora. “NO!” Sky yelled, terrified.

Fortunately, Wild blocked the malice with Fi. Sky was relieved, until he realized the malice was still going and it crept through Fi and to Wild, eventually seizing Wild’s arm, as Wild grunted in pain. “Wild!” Sky gasped, desperately wishing he could go and stop this corpse thingy and rescue Wild.

But it was if he couldn’t move at all. Just like how he felt in his visions. Wild convulsed, struggling to get rid of the malice that was pouring in to his arm. And to add to all the cook’s struggles, a new burst of malice was making its way towards him. Wild quickly raised Fi in defence but the blade chipped, and that little chip managed to make a cut on the corpse, but even still Wild and Flora were in deep trouble. Flora stepped closer to Wild, a conflicted look on her face. “Link!”

“Was that the sword that seals the darkness? A blade that shatters so easily cannot save you from me.” The corpse spoke, voice raspy while staring at the two menacingly.

Sky felt enraged on Fi’s behalf. And, what this monster was implying was the it was a threat. “Zelda…” The corpse rasped.

Flora gave a startled noise, her eyes widening. “You, who carries that fragile sword…are Link.” The corpse smirked.

Wild gave a pained grunt as his own eyes widened as well. Sky was starting to see red. “Rauru placed his faith in you…and that was all you could do?” The corpse slowly turned more sinister.

“How do you…know our names?!” Flora asked, tone suggesting she was panicking. 

Instead of answering the corpse just created more malice and shot it upward, Sky watched as the ground started to crumble and the room began to shake. The malice slowly pushed up a platform. Suddenly, the ground fell beneath the corpse, and Sky stared as the corpse disappeared into darkness. Wild gave another grunt of pain and knelt down, clasping his arm. Sky felt like it was torture to watch these events unfold. “Link!” Flora called, concerned.

To add to everything, the ground also collapsed under Flora and the princess gave a cry as she fell. “FLORA!” Sky screeched, mortified. 

Wild ignored his wound and leaped towards Flora reaching his hand out. Sky watched as their hands nearly touched but unfortunately didn’t. Flora cried out again as she plummeted into the dark. “NO!” Sky shrieked, trying to move, even though he couldn’t.

A golden light wrapped itself around Flora and she disappeared out of thin air as Wild was caught by the teal arm from earlier. Then there was a flash of white light.

___________

“Sky, it’s your turn for watch.” Wild informed the skyloftian, shaking him lightly.

Sky shot up in a sweat, and tried to recollect himself and answer the cook. “O-Okay.”

“You alright?” Wild asked, furrowing his eyebrows.

“M’alright just a nightmare.” Sky responded.

There was no way he could tell the champion of the vision. Wild was already too stressed, and Sky knew Wild would panic. Both Flora and Wild looked like they were going to end up dead. Sky couldn’t even find the right words to explain even if he wanted to. Sky would tell someone else instead. Maybe…Time or Warriors, they would know what to do. “Okay then, just…I’m here…if you need someone to talk to.” Wild offered, giving a small smile.

“Got it, thanks.” Sky returned the smile, but he was shaking, still terrified of what he just saw.

Sky knew that wasn’t an ordinary dream. That was a vision. Wild nodded slightly snd left to his bedroll. Sky took a deep breath and grabbed Fi, grateful to see she was still in good shape. The skyloftian took a glance around and once he made sure everyone was asleep, he curled up into himself and sobbed. 

#an angsty ending #but #maybe he got some comfort #after #linked universe #lu sky #lu wild #lu flora #totk

[moltengoldveins]

me: I am very politically neutral! I try my best to base my opinions on the canon word of God, (fanon Jesus doesn’t count) and nothing else! I’m very chill and while I believe in a lot of movements, I don’t have a lot of emotions about them. I’m very calm.

Techno H. Blade: The proper response to a government that cannot take its people’s wants and needs into account and forces its citizens to do things that are wrong is Firm and Demonstrative Force, aimed at the people who perpetuate said government. I am… not perfect at doing this, but I am Trying My Best, and I am supporting other people who believe this and have been harmed by the system as long as they don’t Immediately betray me. Also, the proper response to a government that executes people without reason or trial is IMMINENT DESTRUCTION RIGHT NOW.

True Mandalorians: Adopting children and integrating outside cultures is pog. Harming children and medics is wrong. Obeying your superiors is pog. Obeying them when you know they’re doing something wrong is Not Pog. Arming yourself to protect your family is pog, so is the use of deadly force when my or my family’s lives and well-being is on the line. Using said force during peacetime, or without thought, or for terrorism is NOT POG.

Me, vibrating slightly: so what you’re saying is property damage is ok in certain circumstances

Techno and the Mandalorians, both visibly concerned: um… I mean Maybe? Depends on a Lot of-

Me, standing outside a government building at 2am having just pulled the fire alarm so nobody’s trapped in there, holding a Molotov, standing over an u conscious Nazi: no time for that time sensitive question is or is not arson ok?

#molten rambles #politics #unfortunately #technoblade #true mandalorians

[stonesparrow]

This dumb idea brought to you by my headcanon that Senku, Taiju, and Yuzuriha had an established reputation at their high school for being a crazy talented (and physically attractive) power trio, which I nicknamed “The Three Stars” in one of my fanfics. And also because I recently saw this Miraculous Ladybug animatic with The Plastics intro song from the Mean Girls musical.

Full song under cut (sans the part where in the original the Plastics invite Cady to sit with them):

NEW STUDENT (Spoken)

Woah, who's at that table over there?

STUDENT A (Spoken)

Shh, keep your voice down, quiet! 

We call those three ‘The Stars’

They're brilliant, bright, and hot

They’re on a level of crazy 

That you’d never have thought!

STUDENT B (Sung)

They might build a castle

Or sound the fire alarm

Like their model volcano

That exploded like a bomb!

STUDENT A (Spoken)

And that volcano was three meters tall

STUDENT B (Spoken)

Ishigami Senku is the ringleader

He’s always dressed up

He always wins the science fair 

We’re just extras in his life that stand in the background

And gasp

SENKU 

Ishigami is the name

I’m not that big of a deal

Love me, hate me

I don’t care a bit 

And the hair? Yeah, it’s real

Popularity’s a sham

Better focus on your grades 

So what if

I sound smart

It’s just the hard work 

You’ll never see me give up and say it’s fine 

My GPA is never lower than

Three point nine 

Ishigami is the name

I’m not that big of a deal

I don't care who you are

Unless you’re useful to me*

STUDENT B (Spoken)

That’s Ogawa Yuzuriha

She can craft anything and everything

STUDENT A (Spoken)

That’s why her headband is so big, it’s full of glue sticks

YUZURIHA

Sewing painting

Stitching knitting

Every waking hour

I spend making arts and craft things

Here’s a crochet flower! 

If Senku-kun is the sun

Then I’m a model globe

Cause I’m just as complicated

If you put on the zoom mode 

I sew at lightning speed so fast 

You cannot hope to see

I’ll give you a commission but I don’t do it all for free

CHORUS

Not for free! 

YUZURIHA

Senku may be a star

But I won’t be behind too far 

As I am chasing my seat on the

Cover of Vivi magazine**

STUDENT B (Spoken)

That is Oki Taiju

The sweetest guy you will ever meet

STUDENT A (Spoken)

I once saw him apologize to a plant he knocked over 

TAIJU

My name is Taiju

My hair is spiky

My muscles are big 

My chest is mighty

Of Senku I think

Supremely highly 

My name is Taiju

I am pretty strong

That's it :)

*He does care. A lot.

**A Japanese women’s fashion magazine.

#dr stone #dcst #dr. stone #ishigami senku #oki taiju #ogawa yuzuriha #mean girls #mean girls musical #my writing #shitposts #’Bird why did you do this’ #why do I do anything really

[sylverstorms]

Daniela x Maiden ---- Hunted Ch.8 (NSFW)

Ch.1 Ch.2 Ch.3 Ch.4 Ch.5 Ch.6 Ch.7

They say if you can master yourself, you can master everything. 

You have years of hunting and self-taught combat to aid you in that department. Sharp senses, rapid reactions, great hand-eye coordination to work alongside your sturdy body. All of these traits have preserved your wellbeing on multiple occasions and are undeniably your greatest strengths. 

So it is ironic that, in a mere moment, they can also become your greatest weakness. 

One minute you are lounging in your bed, reading an old Romanian folklore book that piqued your interest from the main library. You are absorbed in the light stories and drawings there, of wish-granting fairies and trees with wills of their own, so much that your eyes begin to droop. 

And then a strong gust of wind comes from outside. Whatever miniscule gap exists in the locking mechanism of your window allows the air to move the flimsy curtain covering it ever-so-slightly. At the same time, the very corner of your eye registers movement. A shadow; a bat, a monster, a trick of the light –it doesn’t matter. 

It sets you off like a fire alarm. 

Suddenly, you are leaping high into the air, eyes wide, frantic, you are bursting out of your room and you cannot breathe. That’s all it takes. Literally all it takes for you to fall apart; one stray little stimulus caught by your hunter senses and misinterpreted by your mind.

You’d smack straight into the opposite side of the corridor, if it wasn’t for the warm body you crash into, instead. The person unfortunate enough to be tackled into the wall manages to conceal the collision with a soft grunt. Their knees do not hit the ground when yours do. You’d apologize, if only you could find your voice. If your brain wasn’t closing in on you with thoughts of impending doom. If the roof wasn’t coming down to crush you– 

“Hey, hey. Seren, take it easy.” A familiar, smoky voice calls your name. Firm digits press at your shoulder. 

That… breaks you out of your panic mode a little. At least your body stops shaking. Surely, it’s a start. You suck deep breaths into your lungs, until you can finally look up to confirm who it is. Fine dark hair. Hazel eyes. Attractive jawline. Alexia crouches beside you so you don’t have to crane your neck up to meet her gaze. 

“Are you alright? What happened?” she asks and her calmness is infectious. 

“I–I almost fell asleep and then… I thought something outside my window moved.” God, you hate how breathless you sound. “I fucking –lost it.” 

She doesn’t say anything at first, merely lets you count inhales and exhales while her eyes scan your room. “Can’t be a Samce; they don’t normally fly this low or approach the warmer parts of the castle.” she muses, more to herself than you. “Probably just a bat.”

You nod when your heartbeat stops pounding raw pain across your chest. “Yeah. This a thing that… happens.” Not often, but it does. Not that you could ever get used to this kind of impact.

“Sorry to hear that.” Alexia's lips press together. You take her offered hand to stand on your feet again. “Do you want to join me for a while?” 

“Ah… wouldn’t want to keep you up.” you hesitate. 

“Don’t worry about that. I think I’ll wait for Cassandra to return from her hunt, anyway.” she shrugs. 

The two of you take slow, unhurried steps towards the human staff’s common room. You make sure to keep your voices down, not to disturb any of the other women sleeping as you pass by the locked doors of their chambers. Nobody wants to deal with complaining and death-glares come morning. 

At your destination, Alexia pours you both some whiskey, hands you your glass and takes a seat beside you on the couch. Unlike most people, she doesn’t feel the need to fill the silence with smalltalk. You appreciate the time she gives you to completely cool down. 

“It’s not like you, to freak out like that.” comes the comment, eventually. 

“It is, though.” It's a bitter reply, complete by taking a healthy gulp of alcohol that leaves a much-needed burn down your throat. “I’m not fearless like you.”

“I’m… what, now?” A thin eyebrow raises. “I think you’ve got the wrong person there.”

“No.” You shake your head. “The other maids talk of what you did. You were the first ever to escape. As well as the spark that improved living conditions here for the staff.” What guts that takes is beyond your comprehension. 

“I improved living conditions for myself.” Alexia corrects. “Rhiannon advocated for the rest, not me. I’m not that selfless or that good.” So she says, but you are inclined to disagree. 

“Well, anyway. You’re dating Cassandra.” There. Point made. If that doesn’t scream ‘fearless’, nothing does.  

The edge of Alexia’s mouth quirks up. “Not for lack of fear.” 

That answer, you were not expecting. It makes you shift your body towards her, the question evident in your expression. “...Really?”

“Of course. Do you know how long it took for my blood not to turn to ice, at that feral look she got in her eyes when hungry?” You never could have imagined she felt the same as you. Cassandra and she always look so comfortable together. “Before I ever spoke to her, she was the Dimitrescu I feared the most.”

“And how did you overcome that?” you animatedly ask. 

“Everything you want is on the other side of fear.” The words come out perfectly even. “Once I realized that, I could set it aside more and more. At first, it was for benefit. Then, it was for love. Until it disappeared entirely.” 

Well, that is… enlightening. 

“Everyone has phobias and traumas, Seren, whether they are aware of them or not. Trust me, the Dimitrescus are no different than us in that regard.” Indeed, you’re starting to see that. “And maybe that’s the root of the problem. Healthy relationships are hard to build between wounded people.”

Wounded...

“Whatever is haunting you, you should talk about it. In time.” And with that, she finishes her drink. “Rhiannon is best suited to these kinds of things but… you also know where to find me.”

You smile. Raise your glass to that. 

–

–

The daughters return in the ungodly hours of the morning. You hear the exact moment the heavy gates groan open from the top of the staircase, the hushed giggles that follow. Three dark, buzzing blurs make a beeline for the lit fireplace, where their figures solidify. 

Cassandra is the first to push back her hood, head turning towards her girlfriend in the same swift motion. The dim firelight brings out the inhuman gold in her eyes that much more, gleaming like a cat’s. Rich blood coats the lower half of her lips and neck, glistens like a morbid jewel on her too-pale skin. Her smile is that of a wolf’s. 

Your blood pressure rises from it, but Alexia regards her coolly, almost fondly. She’s prepared for the predator flashing in front of her face, as opposed to you, pushing backwards in pure, unrestrained reflex. But the wolf seems more and more domesticated the longer she stays there, locked in a staring competition with a human. 

What surprises you is the fact she’s not looking down on a lesser, weaker species than herself. She sees her equal. 

“Don’t you dare–” Alexia begins, but Cassandra has already pressed a bloody glove to her chin and made a point of dragging it down her neck. 

“Now you need a bath, too.” A wink. “Don’t worry if it doesn’t come right off. I’ll just have to lick hard–”

“Too much information.” Bela knocks her shoulder into her sister’s on her way up the final step in a way that's no accident. 

The low, answering growl would send most people running for the hills. Instead, the blonde ignores it, brings her hand up in a bored little wave as she passes you by. And then… the third shadow joins you, the smears on her lower face as red as her hair.  

“Hey. I thought you’d be sleeping at this hour.” Daniela says, the quiet softness of her voice dizzyingly out of place against her bloodied image. “Miss me that much?” Subtly heterochrome eyes crinkle underneath her hood.

“Let’s go with that.” You reply. 

“Well, since you’re up…” she drags the word out. “Mind drawing me a bath?” Puppy eyes. You get puppy eyes from the baby wolf of the family. 

And of course… you’re not immune to them. 

Which is why, five minutes down the line, you find yourself standing in the bathroom connected to her bedchambers, pointedly staring at the door as Daniela undresses –surely, she could do it faster?– and slips into the water behind you. You keep your mind on the decor, your back to her despite how it unnerves you, until the water has drained twice and she assures you you can look. 

Slowly, you peek with one eye over your shoulder. True to her word, the steaming bathtub is now filled with salts and bubbles, the metallic scent and hue of blood gone. Daniela is laying back amidst the foam like a princess waiting to be painted, long crimson hair sticking to the marble surface that is almost as pale as her skin. 

If you didn’t know what kind of monster she is, seeing her all relaxed here and looking up at you underneath those long lashes of hers, you’d think her a siren. Maybe she is one after all, because you approach, as if under a spell, the moment she motions you closer with a slight tilt of her chin. 

No wonder she smells so good, if this is what she bathes in every day. You wave the stray thought as soon as it forms in your head. You also make a point to keep your eyes above her collar.  

“I thought you don’t like having others around when you bathe.” you speak up, needing to steer your mind in a less intimate direction. This is the first thing you come up with, one of the first key pieces of information the older maids gave you about her. 

“Normally… no.” she admits as if also saying ‘you, I don’t mind’. “But then again I usually keep my head submerged.”

“Oh. I do that, too. The calming effect only works with cold water, though.” You’d know. You have sought out its icy embrace to numb your racing heart, your pain, your fears. Everything.

“Does it.” There’s doubt in her voice. A distant look in her eyes that makes her appear… older, for a moment. The kind that hints she’s tried this for the same reasons you have. Perhaps in a different life. 

You grimace. “The isolation part works, at least.” This is a road down loaded subjects you’re taking and it is too early –too draining– for that. You decide to steer your path in a lighter angle; “Anyway. Here I thought it was a modesty thing.” 

Daniela’s gaze shifts to yours, turning more mischievous by the millisecond and it feels oddly good that she’s back to being the little shit you know. “Modesty is not a thing~” She pushes herself forward as she says it, chest puffed out, bubbles pulled along rosy, pebbled nipples–

Until your hand shoots out and presses her back down by the shoulder. “I can see that, I believe you!” The water is scorching, but you don’t care. Your face burns more. 

Daniela giggles. 

–

–

You wait in her room while she dresses and dries her hair. Busy yourself by looking around, taking in details you missed the first time you were here. Like the blood-red rose preserved in crystalline resin she has at the corner of her desk, the scented candle on the opposite, an array of lipsticks and glosses and other girly things laid out before the vanity that bears her family crest. 

The click and soft hiss of the bathroom door make you pivot. It’s a good thing you did not take the rose into your hands to examine like you wanted, because you surely would have dropped it. 

When you brought her that black, folded nightgown, you never pictured it would hug her frame so sensually. Or that its design would purposely draw attention to her chest, or that she wouldn’t be bothered to tie it properly around her waist. 

The worst part is, none of it seems intentional, this time. Daniela is just lazily running a hand through her long hair, more focused on the pillows stacked at the head of her bed than you. She’s not even trying to be seductive and your stomach has been reduced to bits. 

Bad, bad, need to get out of here–

“Seren.” There goes your escape. “Come lay with me for a while?” Sitting up against the pillows with the covers at her middle, she pats the ample space next to her. “The bed is cold.” She’s not lying; her back is rigid, hands pressed to her biceps.

“You know, it’s really late and I do need to sleep…” you try.

“Kniiiiiight…” 

“Okay, okay, but only ten minutes!” As if the finger you hold up sets some kind of boundary in stone. 

Her bed didn’t seem so intimidatingly large last time. You pull back the covers on your corner as if they’ll bite you, then kick off your shoes and settle –with all the unbreathing fluidity of a log– half-reclining on your side, your temple resting against your fist. Daniela removes her two monster teddies from getting squished between you, sets them on her bedside table with a pat on each of their heads. 

And then… you feel her icy hands creep up your elbows. A slow sigh escapes her lips; her eyes flutter shut, head rolling closer to your shoulder.

You’re a heater for eight more minutes, that’s all you’re here for, you remind yourself over and over. But time begins to blur the closer she slides her body. Quarter… then half on top of you. 

It’s –almost– fine for as long as she’s cold. It keeps you on your toes, doesn’t allow you to sink into the royal comfort of her bed or into her. Yet… she doesn’t stay cold for long. 

Then her fingers roam up your deltoid, curl at your shoulder and her lips turn to find yours. Soft, too soft and plush, more parts lingering than kissing. Your mistake is getting greedy with what you’re given. 

You of all people know not to play with fire, but you do not stop your hand from caressing the bare skin of her stomach where her gown has pulled open. Not even when you feel the hitch in her breathing. Instead, you let your tongue take the invitation of her open mouth to tangle with hers. You miss the first alarm bell when she shifts her weight fully on the leg between hers, presses into you a bit harder, effectively pinning you down.

You don’t miss the second, when her mouth trails from the corner of yours to latch onto your pulse and too-sharp teeth graze your skin. Once. Only once. Once is enough to startle you out of your heady dream and into the danger of reality. You push at her, but she doesn’t register the force. 

“Daniela!” 

The sound of her name makes her snap back, lift herself off of you on her hands and knees. At least she does it immediately, which doesn’t necessarily set you at ease, but…

But you see how her chest is heaving and her arms are straining on either side of your head. She’s reigning her instincts back as promised, expression torn between guilty and painfully turned on. Scared that you’ll push her and run off. Scared you’ll be scared to come close again. 

And you should be. 

“I–I’m sorry.” she huffs. “I wasn’t going to bite. Just– a little mark?” she explains. “It’s the first time I feel so–” Whatever she was about to say, she doesn’t. Then she whispers, softly, “Please don’t leave me like this.”

The thing is... you don’t want to leave her like this, either.

Your own feelings shock you, yet you want to finish what you started, despite how the idea of that ‘little mark’ causes your chest to tighten. 

“Can you be good?” you whisper. 

Her eyes darken further in response. She nods. 

When you press at her shoulder and roll you both around, she puts up no resistance. And there is a startling appeal to be the one to pin her down like this, for her to allow it. To further reinforce your control, her hand carefully takes yours and guides it to her throat. 

She is being good. And she must be rewarded for it. Which is why your fingers slowly trail down her smooth skin, from her chest to her navel, then hooking into the waistband of her lacy underwear. It sticks so mesmerizingly to her legs as you slowly pull it down… 

A whimper escapes her lips the moment you touch her there. You swallow the next with your own when you press a bit further into velvet heat, establishing a rhythm between push, pull and the roll of your thumb. Daniela’s hands fly to the pillow beneath her head, gripping hard.

It’s less than two minutes later you feel how tense she is, her gasps and moans no longer muted. “Seren, Seren, I’m–”

You know she is. Her body breaks into a quaking shiver, her back arches and neck cranes. She’s beautiful and if all that is torn for you to witness this sight is a mere pillow, there won’t be enough reasons to stop you from seeking it out again in the future. 

You slowly guide her down her high, until the predatory golden glow in her eyes gives way to much gentler yellowish blue. She smiles like you’ve just discovered a new star and named it after her. Then she releases the death grip she has on whatever is left of her pillow and trails her hand down your middle. Asking for permission. For direction, too. 

After everything you’ve done, it takes only seconds for you to come apart on her fingers.

And then you get unbearably embarrassed, refusing to lift your head off her ruined pillow. She doesn’t seem bothered either way, sleepily playing with the spiky ends of your hair. Rolling, tugging. 

Way to turn a mess into an already bigger mess, you think. It’s kind of like your superpower, at this point. As if this whole situation –your whole situation– wasn’t bad enough before feelings made it to the mix. 

You are her first… and you’re about to become her first heartbreak.

Your mind begins to stress and race, until you hear her voice by your ear; “Oh, no. No, no.”

“Um…?” you lift your head cautiously. It will be easier if she regrets this. You brace yourself for it. Your heart. You can take pain and it is for the best, for everyone involved.

But Daniela is not looking at you. She’s looking at her stuffed monstrosities. 

“Babiesssss.” she tells them, then carefully slides a hand out of the covers to turn them around, so they’re facing the door. “I’m so sorry, I scarred you for life. Ugh, I’m terrible…”

You squint. Stare. 

“Seren.” She pats your nape. “You have to remind me to shield their eyes and ears next time.”

Wait.

Next time…?

#daniela dimitrescu x reader #daniela dimitrescu x oc #bela dimitrescu #cassandra dimitrescu #alcina dimitrescu #resident evil village #re8 #fanfiction #creative writing #SylverStorms #in which Daniela scars her monster babies for life

[dballzposting]

I love Tenshinahn & Chaozu they make each other so happy and theyre so sweet 

There is a BFF spectrum an on one end is Goten & Trunkz with things like “ride or die, bros b4 hoes, physical violence & intimacy, love to mess with the other” and on the other end of the spectrum is Tenshinahn & Chaozu.

Tenshinhan & Chaozu:

- Are very close and well-bonded

- Must be adopted together

- Pick flowers together, travel at leisurely paces together, train together, build furniture together, live together 

I know that in the actual source material, 60% of chaozu’s dialogue is just him going “Ten-San!” in alarm, but open your mind to the reality that that does not contradict, and does coexist, with the fact that chaozu can hold his own and could go out for a night on the town with Puar & Oolong and could totally win in a gunfight. Chaozu’s kind of a real one and he’s kind of a boss bitch. He’s a crazy motherfucker. He plays cringe music in the car becasue he likes it and he makes it based by not caring about looking cool. He pushes the pedals using his psychic abilities because he’s too short.

When he first met Krillin at that tournament, he just pointed at him and said “Bald.”  .. and when Krillin tried to counter with a “look who’s talking” type deal, Chaozu very confidently and calmly and matter-of-factly took his hat off and showed him his One Hair.

Chaozu calls ‘em as he sees ‘em ... One look, one pull, done with it. No fanfare. One pointing finger, one declared adjective, done. And he’s right every time. 

I think that he could get on fine without Tenshinahn. BUT Tenshinahn is his closest friend and committed companion and he KNOWS how when Tenshinhan worries too much he’s prone to vomiting so he’ll haul ass to get home if it’s been a while since he and Ten reconnected. (To be honest as Tenshinhan progresses as a martial artist his tendency to fall victim to vomit when he’s worried out of his mind has vanished, as he no longer allows himself to fall into such spirals of distress, as he has the discipline and inner strength to simply not need to feel that way, but he is still happiest when he and Chaozu get to see each other often so this is a habit that has persisted.)

Chaozu stayed right by Tenshinhan as he went through his moral crisis and ultimately betrayed The Crane Hermit, and it’s becasue Chaozu is a little guy and a follower and no one expects him to exercise much autonomy, but it’s really becasue Chaozu cared much more about his companion than he did about their school. Even though being a student of a martial art school is a lifestyle commitment by your entire being, Chaozu was not going to forsake Tenshinhan, becasue their bond is the core of his value system. They are ride or die. Nevermind the Crane Hermit being their master and all. Nevermind the deep ignominy of forsaking him.

Also there’s this scene from a movie that i havent seen yet that is making me feel so many things

Honestly I think that Chaozu is SO OPEN-MINDED that his brain space is essentially just the universe and so he handled forsaking the crane hermit and the shift from evil to good pretty easily. He was like “Oh no more robbing and lying? OK. Sounds good. Time to commit myself to virtue” and then he just does that perfectly. 

I think that Tenshinhan needs his little buddy the same way that he needs to stand in waterfalls for hours on end. This is just how he has to live his life

Like I do not need to tell you about the intricate and interesting complexities of Tenshinhan (mostly becasue i cannot put it into words) but he is like a constellation in the night sky. He is deep and profound and earnest and dire. 

And he and Chaozu pick flowers and build furniture and go to the market and make their own dinners. 

Individually, they each can handle most things. Chaozu can handle the awful things that Oolong says. Tenshinhan can handle the dirty jokes that Yamucha makes. Chaozu can handle a gunfight grand-theft-auto style. Tenshinhan can handle when Launch bursts in firing on all calibers. 

But together there are so many things that they do Not do ... they have fully-realized personalities and “excessive curiosity and adventurousness” is not a part of them. Some BFFs are like that (Goten & Trunks) and they do everything together and it’s fun just because theyre together, but these two are not like that.

It’s true that they do need to do everything together (there is no universe where one went on one moral path and the other on a different one...) but they do not do random shit. They are quite fond of and comfortable with structure. They do not burden each other with classless jokes. Never would they even think to repeat one when only the other was present. They don’t make useless comments about what they see. They are never concerned with making the other laugh. They appreciate and respect animals and when one embarrasses itself in front of them, they lend a helping hand. For comparison, if Yamucha saw an animal trip while scrabbling up a tree, he would first be like “looks like me monday morning” before offering any aid. Tenshinhan & Chaozu do not say that shit ....

I love Tenshinhan & Chaozu and I think that they are so sweet. 

I love them

#dballz posting

[halcyon-writings]

cw/notes: mentioned character death, spoilers for fire and blood if you only watched the show, slight canon divergence as well, overall kinda somber (apologies to rhaenrya as this is my first fic for her and it's angst oop)

nav.

She wakes up with a scream, a scream so loud that it startles you awake. The guardsmen outside the doors soon are rushing into her chambers, fearing the worst for their queen.

You raise your hands from where you stand in place at her side, having been in the room already as the pair of you had shared a dinner here rather than being out, as Rhaenrya had been too drained to do so. You had unknowingly (and unfortunately) slept at the small desk nearby, already beginning to feel that in your neck. Your hands raised so that the Queensguard do not think you were an intruder. before they relax but only just.

"Apologies for startling you, gentlemen," You placate, standing in front of Rhaenyra, more to reassure her that they would not see their queen so browbeaten, so defeated.

Rhaenyra's voice sounds from behind you as well, "I will be fine, Sers, please, it was only a trick of the mind I saw in my sleep." A nightmare more like it. But you don't voice that thought.

The two knights share an unsure look, before acquiescing to her command, leaving the room as the door shuts gently behind them. While she had not seen it, you had seen their worried looks, it was a shared expression seen on the faces of many of the servants in the Red Keep that were loyal to the rightful Queen.

You hear a gasp from behind, turning around in slight alarm. There she was, not the Queen, but Rhaenyra. Her eyes filled with tears as her body shook. It did not take owning a chain of the Citadel to figure out what her dreams may have been about.

"Oh, Rhaenyra..." You say sadly, grabbing one of her hands with both of yours, your voice hushed so that the guards outside do not hear, "It was just a nightmare, you're in the Red Keep, you are safe."

"i dreamed about them again," She responds with instead, her eyes haunted.

"Would you like to tell me about this nightmare? Or should I ask for a pitcher of some arbor red to help calm you down?" You ask quietly.

She looks up, as though alarmed, with a sharp, "No!" Rhaenyra realizes that she had raised her voice, as she shakes her head, "No. No... I will be alright."

The look of disbelief on your face seems to be sensed by her, as she barely looks up from her lap. "I know that you think otherwise..." At least then you decide to look sheepish.

"Then tell me, Rhae, you can trust me," Sitting at her bedside, you look at her imploringly. After the Dance had ended, there were a grievous amount of scars left on the realm, but also left on Rhaenyra's heart. Wounds that had been left to fester as she had been forced to push them out of sight in order to focus on the realm's recovery.

"I cannot be weak-" She begins.

"Rhaenrya," You say sternly, surprising her as you interrupt, "Yes, you are the Lady of the Seven Kingdoms now, yes, you are the Queen, and yes, you are to serve and protect the realm, but who will make sure that Rhaenyra is alright?" The look you proceed to send her seems to not just build her up, but also dress her down, a rarity for the Queen, as not many were bold enough (or stupid enough) to do so.

She sighs, pulling her shawl around herself tighter, "I had told you that I had dreamed about them. My boys..." I only nod, before she continues with a hesitant pause for a moment. "I had dreamt about how they met their fates, how they must have felt, and how I could not be with them...my Jace... my Luke, even sweet Viserys," Her breath hitches, and Rhaenyra's eyes look up to yours, and all you can see is the pure agony within them, "I failed them, haven't I?"

You do not answer her, you do not know how you could even, knowing that none of the words you could ever provide be a comfort to this woman who had lost her boys, with her remaining children were not left unmarred by this war either. Instead, you allow her to hug you tightly, her cries silent as she allowed herself to grieve after all this time.

#hotd x reader #hotd imagines #house of the dragon x reader #house of the dragon iamgines #rhaenyra targaryen x reader #rhaenyra targaryen & reader #rhaenyra targaryen imagines #asoiaf x reader #mine

[whatbigotspost]

God I just feel exhausted today by encountering stuff that's just wrong by people who think they are setting the record straight.

As I've mentioned on and off over the years, I work at a nonprofit that primarily serves girls. We've literally always had the most inclusive approach by what that means, basically, "if you want to be served, we want to work with you."

Lately, our staff has gotten tied up in overly focusing on labels and there's a not insubstantial portion of the group who truly, fully believe that people cannot identify with BOTH being girls and ALSO being nonbinary and it's driving me up the fucking wall. Like, they really are thinking, "there's no longer TWO BOXES for gender there are THREE BOXES" and they're patting themselves on the back, whereas I am begging everyone to just burn the fucking boxes. Abolish boxes. Be box free. Anyway, today I heard it said AGAIN that someone cannot be both a woman AND also be something outside of womanness too, and I want to set my hair on fire in protest because I. am. literally. the. person. they. say. doesn't. exist. But they're apparently more interested in being "right" based of some 101 DEI training they went to than they are listening to people who live outside the binary.

And then there's the Thinx post of mine that blew up.

Literally from the moment I published the first version of the post, I regretted sampling the info from tweets that are inflammatory and scare style in tone. The tweets I chose were where I genuinely for the first time learned of the situation and as I always do, I gave credit to where I learned the thing. Some of the early comments I got rightfully pointed out how the original material implies that people are currently being harmed, physically, by the toxic materials in Thinx, when really the case is about the false advertising claims. I should have better clarified that there are not reports of Thinx damaging anyone's body……….yet, from the get-go. THAT SAID, the original tweets I posted in no way claim that anyone was harmed... but they DO SAY that if you think you may be harmed, don't take the class action settlement money so that you can sue them later if you need to. Which is still good advice, in my view.

What I don't regret at all was raising the alarm that Thinx doesn't have your best interests in mind as much as you may assume from their advertising and brand. I stand firm in my unshakeable belief that people have a right to know what's in the materials they put up close to their fucking genitals and that companies will happily lie to you about that kind of thing if it drives their profits. Now that folks are calling that post "blatant misinformation" I gotta just say for a moment: No. It's not. Read it again. While it is inflammatory, there is not actually ANY false information in that post. The closest it gets is by encouraging people to stop wearing their Thinx, which is an opinion that OP held, based on real information the case reveals. Other than that is says: Thinx has materials in it that are toxic that they previously did not reveal. IF you think you've been harmed, don't take the settlement money.

That's it. So YEAH feeling quite a bit frazzled today by bumping into some self-righteous views of "truth" that are actually false in and of themselves so just had to vent that shit.

Turning off reblogging on this because I only feel like sending this complaint to my followers 😂 But I always appreciate a ❤ as a sign of support for my whiny rants!

[nokingsonlyfooles]

I would NEVER shoplift because, uh, having an underpaid security person demand to see my receipt would STOP me. For sure.

Yes, Loblaws is price gouging. No, of course they don't admit it. Most of their stores have self-checkouts and they also like you to bring your own bags. I bring my own cart and walk to the store (Nice, walkable area right here! It's amazing!), an opaque cloth shopping cart, with a lot of pockets. It's terribly convenient. I go to Canadian Superstore, and Wal Mart, and No Frills, and Dollarama, all kinds of stores. Of course, I do not steal from these stores. Stealing is WRONG!

But, uh, if I did, would a receipt check stop me?

Wal Mart happens to do receipt checks - sometimes of everyone, sometimes just if you set off the alarm thingy. The underpaid employee who pawed through my cart when I set off the alarm thingy said, apologetically, that he was looking for drugs or clothes. Those things set off the alarm most. He found a large bottle of antacids, said, "Oh, that must be it," checked it against the receipt (yes, I paid for the antacids) and let me go. So, as far as Wall Mart goes, if you've got drugs or clothes (or large, obvious appliances and electronics, one assumes), and you paid for 'em, you're good.

Was there anything else in that cart NOT on the receipt? Food perhaps, or small cosmetics without security tags? OF COURSE NOT! STEALING IS WRONG!

But, say, if I were a really petty, vindictive individual, I would be MOST inclined to steal the things they fence off like I'm going to steal them, or from places that insist on receipt checks, or from places that are price gouging. Those locks they put on the display racks and force their underpaid employees to open again and again, for example, can be defeated by simply tearing through the cardboard loop the merchandise hangs from, or, in the case of a plastic loop, a smallish scissors. Just for example! Never do this!

Any sting they might be feeling from lost inventory is, of course, a side-effect of firing people and replacing them with self-checkouts. Some things just don't scan, and things can get lost in a cloth bag or cart. That's not anybody's fault! (Well, it's management's fault, but apparently we're still not stealing enough to make them reconsider the self-checkouts... I'm sure we've all walked off with one or two things that just didn't scan, that's how I mean "we"!)

I doubt it's enough to make them consider hiring more people, or pricing things reasonably - not yet - but it is interesting that they're posting warnings for us all to be a bit more careful. They must not be seeing quite the level of profits they expect! For some reason.

If you happen to look ethnic, teenaged or poor, they're going to hassle you more, even if you're not stealing. Legally, they cannot demand to see your receipt, but it's difficult to protest when a security guard is standing between you and the exit. If you get annoyed with that, I suggest making friends with a middle-aged, fair-skinned woman (or at least someone who looks female). Middle-aged, fair-skinned women make wonderful friends. Many of them have friendly opaque cloth shopping carts - er, I mean shoulders, "shoulders to cry on"! I'm just so bad at spelling! Make sure you check them for anarchist or socialist tendencies first! We don't want any law-breakers, ha-ha!

#loblaws #shoplifting #receipt checks #psa #direct action #plz do not steal they hate that #let's watch and find out how MUCH they hate it!

[akif122514]

Enhancing Safety with Expertise: Your Trusted End Suction Fire Pump Service Company

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Visit: https://reliant-est.com/product-category/fire-pump-safety-service-company/

[sprinkler4h]

Essential Guide to Domestic Sprinkler Systems

In the world of fire safety, the significance of reliable fire sprinkler companies cannot be overstated. Among their offerings, domestic sprinkler systems stand out as a critical component in safeguarding homes from the devastating impacts of fire. This article delves into the importance of these systems, shedding light on how they work and why every household should consider installing one. Understanding Domestic Sprinkler Systems At its core, a domestic sprinkler system is designed to combat fires at their inception, significantly reducing the risk of damage and injury. Unlike commercial systems, these are tailored for residential environments, ensuring that they are both effective and aesthetically fitting. Fire sprinkler companies specialize in providing solutions that are discreet yet powerful, blending seamlessly into your home's décor while offering robust fire protection. The magic of these systems lies in their simplicity and efficiency. Installed in ceilings, they remain inconspicuous until a fire is detected. Once the system senses a significant rise in temperature, typically indicative of a fire, the closest sprinkler to the heat source activates. This targeted approach not only extinguishes or controls the fire but also minimizes water damage. Why Opt for a Domestic Sprinkler System? The primary benefit of installing a domestic sprinkler system is, undoubtedly, the enhanced safety it provides. In the event of a fire, these systems spring into action immediately, often containing or extinguishing the blaze before the fire services arrive. This rapid response can be the difference between a minor incident and a catastrophic event. Moreover, these systems are known for their reliability. Fire sprinkler companies utilize advanced technology to ensure that domestic sprinkler systems are both sensitive to fire conditions and resistant to false alarms. This reliability provides homeowners with peace of mind, knowing that their property and loved ones are well-protected. Choosing the Right System and Provider When considering a domestic sprinkler system, selecting the right provider is crucial. Experienced and reputable fire sprinkler companies offer comprehensive services, from consultation and design to installation and maintenance. This end-to-end service ensures that your system is perfectly suited to your home and provides optimal protection. A good starting point is to explore the offerings of established companies in this field. For example, a visit to https://www.amsco.co.uk/ provides a wealth of information on various sprinkler systems, including detailed insights into their domestic offerings. Their product page, https://www.amsco.co.uk/product/sprinkler-systems, further elaborates on the specifications and benefits of their systems, helping you make an informed decision. Real-Life Impact: A Case Study Consider the story of the Smith family, who experienced a kitchen fire that could have escalated into a disaster. Fortunately, their domestic sprinkler system, installed by a reputable fire sprinkler company, activated and controlled the fire within minutes. This swift action not only saved their home from significant damage but also protected the family from potential harm. Conclusion Domestic sprinkler systems are an invaluable investment in the safety of your home. By partnering with a reputable fire sprinkler company, you can ensure that your home is equipped with a system that provides both safety and peace of mind. Remember, in the realm of fire safety, being proactive with the right tools and technologies can make all the difference. 

For the latest in fire safety and top-notch domestic sprinkler systems, visit our expert fire sprinkler companies, committed to safeguarding homes and families.

#fire sprinkler companies

[hardynwa]

Netizens slam killing of elephant by man in military uniform

A video showing the killing of an elephant in the Kala Barge Local Government Area of Borno State, on Monday, surfaced online. In the video shared by @MusaGwary on the X platform, the man who killed the elephant was alleged to be a military man because he was dressed in military uniform. He was captured in the video shooting the elephant. Another man looked on as the man in military uniform fired at the elephant while another man in a blue shirt was also seen carrying a gun in the video. The men in the video, speaking in Hausa Language had alleged the destruction of their farmland by the elephants.A translation of their claim reads, “This feat we have achieved today, we set out from Gambori, possibly we already came here, we came with our cartridge and everything and we were lucky to have killed two. “If this kind of effort has been made and you kill two, two ten times by now things would have doused because of the destruction they do us. We are happy today and we applaud those who made this effort.” However, the number of men and those in the video cannot be ascertained. The video also shows how the elephant was butchered by the men. Nigerians on the social media platform X have, however, condemned the killing of the elephant. A screenshot of the men butchering the elephantAlso, wildlife lovers have condemned the video and called on the military, and the Borno government to probe the act. Writing on X, a Netizen Gwary said, “Urgent call to end elephant killings in Kala Barge Local Government. Viewer’s discretion is advised. I am writing to bring your attention to a critical issue that demands immediate action – the alarming rate of elephant killings in Kala Barge Local Government. “The majestic elephants, crucial to our ecosystem, are facing a dire threat that requires our collective efforts to address. Let us stand together in the defence of these gentle giants, protecting them from further harm.” Also writing, @inv__Sulaiman called on the customs “to investigate and find this military man and execute him” Another user with the handle @IdakwoJags said, “So meat is now scarce up to the extent of eating elephant” while @AdamAbbaji expressed sadness watching the video. He called on the Borno state government to probe the act. “This is very sad to watch. I hope the Borno State Government will immediately investigate this gruesome tragedy of killing endangered animals,” he expressed. @UsmanZannah decried the increasing rate of killing elephants. He suggested, “Africa demands immediate attention and action from the authority and it necessitates urgent measures to protect them and preserve the ecosystem.” Bashir Ahmad (BashirAhmmad), a former aide to former President, Muhammadu Buhari, reacted by saying, “This is so sad. And they’re even proud of what they did. Haba.” A user, @MalcolmAlkalee, called for the preservation of wildlife so that generations to come can be beneficiaries of it. “Why kill this innocent elephant? In the near future, we have nothing to showcase for the upcoming generations. #PreserveWildLife. @amse48 called for more awareness to protect the wildlife. “This is heartbreaking! We need to raise awareness about this issue and urge the authorities to take immediate action to protect these magnificent creatures.” @Ceasarokoli questioned the use of weapons by the alleged military men. “How can military officers use weapons purchased with taxpayers’ money to kill an elephant? What sort of rubbish is this?” Another, @tawaladeyemi reacted by saying, “Elephants play a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance, and their senseless killing not only poses a threat to their existence but also disrupts the delicate ecosystems they inhabit. I implore the government to take immediate and decisive action to address this issue.” Efforts to speak with the state commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Professor Usman Tar, could not be reached for reaction as of the time of filing this report. Every 3rd of March is marked as World Wildlife Day. It is a United Nations International Day to celebrate all the world’s wild animals and plants and the contribution that they make to human lives and the health of the planet. Read the full article

[late-to-the-magnus-archives]

Cloud City, Chapter Eight - a Malevolent AU

Sit, witch. It’s the Defiler.

And oh, Asenath’s face.

She already looks tired. Now, at these words, she goes dead pale, making her stubble stand out, making the kohl around her eyes seem bruisingly dark. “Oh,” says Asenath, and falls into her chair as though unplugged from her power source. “Well, that sucks."

AO3 || Masterpost

---------

They go to the station. Arthur knows this part, has done this part a thousand times.

He does not expect the psychic paper to catch fire the moment he tries to transfer what he knows.

That… is new. That is frightening. His left hand grips his right while they try again, but no—it’s not the paper’s fault. The second and third sheets burst into flames, too.

Whatever this etheric resonance is carries so much power that it cannot be recorded in the usual way.

It makes sense. It’s somehow tied to the violent death of seventy-eight victims. It would be too much. Still, Arthur feels irrationally embarrassed. The coppers are giving him strange looks, wary ones, and who the hell knows what they mean?

“Hey,” he says to one who passes by. “Has someone called Asenath yet?”

He gets a shrug and the back of that guy’s head.

Arthur is so damn tired.

Finally, they dig a memory stone out of storage—old thaumaturgy, and not cheap, but also durable, so he holds that and concentrates to transfer his new memory.

The memory stone cracks.

“Fuck!” he says, and the cops echo his curse as they take the broken stone away.

What’s he going to do? Should he leave? Can he? Will Parker let him? If he can’t transfer the essence, there’s no point in staying here. He stands.

Three officers converge on him.

No one says he’s under arrest. No one puts him in cuffs, or anything; but they shuttle him into a small office, give him a cup of black coffee, and leave him there alone.

There isn’t even a window in here.

Arthur feels drained. He sits in the chair they gave him, slumped, hands around the coffee he can only feel with one palm, trying to focus his remaining eye on the rising steam, on the bubbles on the coffee’s surface, on any of the little sights he used to take for granted.

Crying at the police station is not a thing he’d like to do, and he does his best to keep it under wraps.

Right, says Hasur. Are you ready for the bad news?

“What, don’t think you’re being overheard now?” Arthur can’t help snapping.

No. Parker’s not here. Nobody’s near you, and it’s chaos out there.

It is chaos out there. Arthur’s not sure what is so special about this etheric resonance, but its existence seems to have sounded a metaphorical alarm. There’s shouting, phone calls, people running by—

“All right. Guess I’m ready as I’ll ever be.”

What I saw in that last room confirms that someone got hold of The Revelations of Gla'aki.

“The what?” says Arthur, hoarse.

Books. They are filled with blasphemies and foul things and spells and rituals that weaken the boundaries between your world and ours. While they have some useful things, like the Pentacle of Planes for protection, most of those books are just dangerous.

“How many copies are there?”

None and too many, all at once. They’re dream-books. You can burn every copy you find, but someone will always dream another.

“Dream-books. Great. Chasing your tail,” Arthur mutters.

Yes. And—

“And what?”

The reason Hastur stopped becomes clear: the door opens, and Asenath walks in. “So. You burned up some psychic paper. That’s a thing.” She closes the door behind her.

“Asenath,” says Arthur, deeply relieved.

“Don’t sound so happy to see me,” she says. “You’ll make me think you’re likeable.”

“Ha… yeah.”

Sit, witch. It’s the Defiler.

And oh, Asenath’s face.

She already looks tired; whatever she was doing while Arthur was scouting murder sites must have been big. Now, at these words, she goes dead pale, making her stubble stand out, making the kohl around her eyes seem bruisingly dark. “Oh,” says Asenath, and falls into her chair as though unplugged from her power source. “Well, that sucks.”

I saw signs of spells from The Revelations of Gla'aki. I saw rot. I saw the lingering effects of perversion.

“Fuck,” says Asenath.

If it were only that.

“Fuck,” she says again, and runs her hand through her hair. Her nails—still chipped—are all different colors now. “Okay. Okay. Sure. Might as well be this.”

“Someone going to tell me what the Defiler is?” says Arthur.

Wait, Hastur warns.

The door opens. “All good here?” says Parker.

“We’re good. Off you go, darling,” says Asenath, making shooing motions.

Parker pauses, but then he goes. The door shuts.

Asenath waggles her fingers at it.

All the sound from out there immediately stops.

She looks smug as hell.

“What did you do?” Arthur says.

“We can talk now without being overheard.”

Powers sure must be nice to have . “Great. So what’s the Defiler?”

“Did Hastur even try?” she said.

You’re far better at explaining, he says, completely smooth.

“I’m not, but you’re enjoying this too much to stop, aren’t you?” she says.

Arthur rolls his eyes. “Somebody tell me.”

“Sure thing, boss.”

“Don’t call me boss.”

Asenath gives him the sassiest grin he has ever seen in his life. “Whatever you say, boss.”

How had he thought this playfulness was attacking him all that time? How? “Stop being likable, yourself,” he adds. “Explain.”

The sassiness fades. “He’s bad, Arthur Lester. The Defiler is a deity of perversion and rot. Loves things like orgies ending in cannibalism, specifically targeting children.”

Arthur stares at her. “What the fuck is wrong with him?”

“He’s one of the reasons the gods sealed themselves away,” she says. “He has no self control. If he comes through, he’ll wreck everything. He wouldn’t even hesitate. Wouldn’t hold back. By the time he was done? Even souls wouldn’t be safe; he likes to shove them into the in-between spaces, so they’re trapped between life and death, in eternal limbo.”

“So he’s like the devil, but real?”

“None of these beings are good or bad, Arthur Lester. To be moral, you have to have choice. They just… are what they are. You might as well get mad at the wind for drying your eyes.”

“Great. So why don’t the others stop him?”

She sighs. “They are. That’s why you have the glass of Leng and the Dagger of Obsidian and Blood. That’s why you have the Summon you have. You know Hastur isn’t normal, right?”

Nicely phrased, witch. Hastur sounds pleased.

She shrugs. “Some tar, I don’t care to stick my fists into.”

You certainly seem to want to stick something somewhere.

“You big flirt!” she says, batting her eyelashes.

Arthur has no energy for this. “How can you joke after what you just said?”

“Sorry, Arthur Lester,” says Asenath. “I keep forgetting this is your first extinction event. It’s not my first. Or my second. Or my tenth.”

He stares at her. “How do you handle it?”

“Eyes on the prize.” She shrugs. “Eventually, I get to go to the Mother. It’ll all be worth it.”

That’s a lot to think about. He doesn’t have a prize to eye; the torment of Faroe’s murderer is already part of this, and beyond that…

Right, he’s distracting himself. “So what you’re saying is, them ‘stopping’ one of their own from destroying the world they claim to love so much is just… picking some guy.”

“Oh, honey,” says Asenath. “That’s half the fun. Nobody knows what you’ll do. They’re probably taking bets. They’re certainly watching. Neither your success nor failure are inevitable.”

“Great,” he mutters. “That feels great to know.”

“Don’t doubt yourself so much. Hastur chose you. The Mother chose you. You’ve been given opportunity and tools, and… well. I know for a fact that you’re stubborn enough to pull it off.”

He doesn’t doubt himself. He just knows what he is, deep down, and it’s nothing to write home about. “My stubbornness isn’t my best quality.”

“It might be.” She takes his hand, raises it, and kisses the back.

Magick tingles, spreading rapidly from her lips, covering his hand to the wrist and pulsing in time with his heart.

Arthur stares. “What did you just do?”

“One of the few protections I can give that’ll mean anything,” she says. “Some hours of energy without having to eat. You’ll be okay for a while yet.”

It seems so small, and he feels small for thinking it. “You can do more. Fuck, I sound ungrateful, and I’m not, but you’re Asenath Waite. You can do more!”

“I have restrictions,” she said, almost gently. “I’m a representative of the Mother, and so I can only get so involved. If I push too hard, it’s considered cheating. I’ll simply be removed.”

“Removed?”

She shrugs. The smile is tired, old; still spicy, still crooked. She’s not done, but she’s already made her peace if removal happens.

If the worst happens, and she goes to the Mother.

He doesn’t miss that she’s more ready to die than he is. That’s definitely a change from when they first met five years ago. “The Mother… saved everyone from the Fire of Y?”

“No, they all did that together, and it was a pain in the ass. They won’t do it again, Arthur. There’s no one coming to save us.”

Great. Now he wants to cry in the police station again. “You say that like any of this is fair. It’s not.”

“It’s not. It’s fun to them, and we can’t change it—so we might as well make do.”

He sighs and leaned forward, hanging his head.

Asenath is silent.

So is Hastur.

Arthur gets it. All this talk of nature and morality, success and failure… he gets it. He has to choose to do this. If he chooses to fuck around and let the world end, that’ll be it. They’ll just watch. It’s all on him, and they picked a lousy horse. “Five years ago,” he says evenly, “I would’ve let this happen. I would’ve died screaming, but with a smile on my face, knowing whoever killed my daughter was dying, too. You know that, right?”

Asenath looks stricken. “I didn’t know it was that bad. I’m sorry.”

Yes. I did.

Something about that answer bothers him. “Hastur,” Arthur says slowly. “Did you… choose me on purpose for this role?”

No. You were a Contractor strong enough to let me get eyes on the situation. I didn’t even know how long you would last. Your mental recovery , as lovely as it’s been, is incidental. I did not know you’d be chosen to do this.

Arthur goes very still. “So you thought I might blow up in a week.”

It was a possibility.

And Asenath gets it before Hastur does. Her eyes go wide. “Oooh, shit,” she says, low.

“Then you already knew who murdered my daughter, or you couldn’t risk not fulfilling the Contract.”

Silence.

Asenath has one hand over her mouth.

“Didn’t you?” says Arthur. “Didn’t you?”

Yes.

Arthur supposes—the part of himself that still functions, like an echo of mind—that it is in Asenath’s favor that she doesn’t just walk out of the room. She looks horrified, shocked, gutted, both gutted and pitying, but she stays.

The rest of him is so angry at Hastur that he cannot think.

He can’t hit Hastur.

He doesn’t want to hit Asenath.

He can’t do anything. Maybe it would be a good idea to leave. He stands.

Asenath starts to speak, then stops. She gestures, as if to say, you do what you have to do.

“I guess that’s the wisdom immortal experience gets you,” says Arthur, and walks out the door.

#

Parker is right there—he’d been leaning against the wall, arms crossed—and he grabs Arthur the moment he appears.

“Let go,” says Arthur, low and rough, sounding like a complete stranger.

“No,” says Parker. “You said there were going to be more murders. Three more, right? If there’s even the slightest chance we can get more information out of you to prevent those, you can’t go.”

Had Arthur mentioned how many murders were required for this? Probably. It didn’t matter. Not right now. Arthur has to go. He can’t run from Hastur, but he feels like he needs to try. “You’re not listening. I need to get out of here. Now.”

“No.”

Were they really doing this? “You don’t have any reason to hold me. I’ve broken no laws.”

“Well. You did trample all over six sealed crime scenes.”

Arthur gawked at him. “You were the one who unsealed them!”

“Was I?”

“Parker, this isn’t funny.” He tries to pull away.

Parker’s grip on his arm is like iron. “I don’t want to lock you up. Not after everything. But if you try to leave again, Arthur, I will.”

This could not be happening. “Parker, I’m serious. Let go.”

He does not.

Arthur can’t stay here, with Hastur inside him, can’t stay still with what he now knows. He jerks back.

Arthur, don’t. If you stay calm, we can sneak away. Arthur! Calm the fuck down!

So that did not calm him the fuck down, and Arthur does the exact opposite.

It takes the coppers nearly eight minutes to wrestle him to the floor.

(chapter nine)

#malevolent #malevolent big bang 2023 #malevolent fanfic #arthur lester #hastur malevolent #malevolent au #cloud city fic #parker yang #asenath waite #trans asenath waite #trans woman